DHL held its inaugural DHL Robotics Hour media event earlier this week. DHL successfully piloted two Dorabot DoraSorter systems – one Sort-to-Gaylord and the other Sort-to-Bag. The proprietary drawer-shaped, conveyor belt end effector is the characteristic I found most innovative about this solution. Rather than grasping and item, it supports and balances items from below.
Robots continue to be a larger part of global supply chains. When it comes to deploying robots, warehouse technology is more established, as the use of robots within warehouses is set to grow significantly. Warehouse labor shortages will continue to be the main growth driver for autonomous mobile robots. But there are other use cases […]
Already upended for two years by the COVID-19 pandemic, the worldwide logistics industry is facing new challenges. With gasoline prices reaching record highs, transportation managers must make smarter decisions that minimize road miles and associated costs. While demand is high, ongoing product shortages continue to cause supply chain disruptions, create unpredictable shopping behaviors and drive […]
The Boston area is a hub for warehouse robotics companies. Living and working in this area provides me with the opportunity to schedule site visits at many of these innovative firms. Most recently, I visited the Berkshire Grey (BG) corporate office for an in-depth discussion about the company’s business, followed by a tour of the […]
GXO Logistics, the former logistics segment of XPO Logistics, is extensively deploying warehouse technology as a key ingredient to its formula for success. About 30 percent of its revenue is from automated sites. Some notable technology implementations include the Exotec System, Swisslog AS/RS, Koerber’s layer picker, and an extensive agreement with GreyOrange for its goods-to-person robotics.
Earlier this month, I wrote an article about the diverse range of mobile warehouse robotics solutions available in the market today. Although the solutions vary greatly, they’re alike in the ability to offer greater flexibility than many of the traditional automation alternatives. The ability to adapt automation to changing requirements is increasingly important to warehouse […]
I am currently updating ARC’s research on the global mobile warehouse robotics market. I transitioned my efforts to this research effort after publishing ARC’s study on the global WMS market earlier this summer. And prior to that research, I developed ARC’s research on the broadly defined warehouse automation market. It occurred to me as I […]